A mercy-full long life

When Enoch was 65 years old, he became the father of Methuselah. After the birth of Methuselah, Enoch lived in close fellowship with God for another 300 years, and he had other sons and daughters. Enoch lived 365 years, walking in close fellowship with God. Then one day he disappeared, because God took him. Genesis 5:21-24

I had to sit with this one. "After the birth of Methuselah"...Now, I am the mom of four. One of my labors was especially rough and it's 26 hours I won't ever forget. But something about Methuselah's birth changed Enoch forever, because after it he began to walk "in close fellowship with God" and did so for the next 300 years. Why?

Methuselah means, "his death will bring." Um, what? It can also be translated "When he is dead, it shall be sent" or, "When he dies, judgment." I'll spare you all the detailed calculations, but guess what: the year Methuselah died...the Flood came. (Some extra-biblical sources say he died seven days prior). It can be assumed that God showed dad that when his son died, there would be judgment on the earth. And that drove Enoch to an intense relationship with God that so marked God with delight that one day He just said (sort of), 'You know what? You get a pass on this death thing. Come on up."

What's also interesting is that Methuselah, most of us out there know, lived longer than anyone else ever. What does that preach about God's mercy? "The Lord isn’t really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent. " 2 Peter 3:9

All of us know, instinctively, whether we are Christians or whether we are not, that one day judgment is coming. We know, instinctively, right from wrong. We know that no farther than our home page or the flip of our TV remotes, that the world is skyrocketing into unprecedented craziness. No, I am not a doomsayer or a fanatic...I'm just sayin'. No one knows the day or the hour, but Jesus said that when (the signs we are seeing in the world today) begin to happen, look up! It's about to happen. This is the third time this week, in three different places, in fact, that I have seen this message.

If we have peace with God through the Lord Jesus Christ, this gives us hope, not fear. If you read this and are afraid...or if you read this and get angry...you do not have peace with God through the Lord Jesus Christ. And guess what? Today can be the day for that. Methuselah's long life shows us God isn't impulsive and quick-tempered; He gave a warning and lots of time.

"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." John 3:16 It's our "Come on up here!"

As for me, I am planning to get right up close to God and walk in fellowship with Him for the rest of my days...even if I don't get a pass on the death thing (grin). Join me.

Sick? This stuff!

When the sniffles or body aches start in this house, one of us runs to Sprouts for a tried and true friend :

The key ingredient that sets it apart from emergen-C, Airborne and the rest is grapefruit seed extract (GSE). It is a natural antibiotic with a variety of established uses. Google for more info :-) (FYI, there are medications with which you cannot ingest grapefruit...to my knowledge that's the only warning for it).

As far as cold/flu symptoms go, this stuff usually has us back on our feet in a day or two. No side effects--I hate the dry mouth and spacy feeling of over the counter medications so this is perfect. Only a few times has it not been helpful; I believe I had strep and an ear infection simultaneously once that needed some prescription antibiotic (and don't NOT go to the doctor's if you need to!).

We get it at Sprouts and it runs about $15 for a small bottle and about $23 for a big one. I figure our copay at the doctor's office is $20, and then there are usually prescriptions after that, so it's a good deal if it keeps us from having to make appointments!

I got a bottle today--we've let the gunk go on longer than usual in our house without grabbing some. Planning to feel better soon!

Book review: "The Goodness of God" by Randy Alcorn

One of the biggest questions asked by Christians and non-Christians alike is "Why does God allow suffering?". Non-Christians often point to the problem of evil and suffering as conclusive proof that a loving God cannot exist. Many Christians struggle with God's goodness even though they know that the Bible contains many verses about the inevitability of difficult times such as "we must suffer many hardships to enter the kingdom of God" (Acts 14:22). It seems all of us need to know the truth about this subject so universal to everyone who has ever lived.

Randy Alcorn, who has written more than 40 books including Heaven, The Treasure Principle, and Safely Home, takes on this issue in a clear, concise fashion in his new book, The Goodness of God: Assurance of Purpose in the Midst of Suffering. His simple, easy to read style makes a complex issue understandable by any reader; one does not have to know "Christianese" to be able to grasp his points. He looks at the origins of evil and suffering and then takes us through the problem of sin, alternative explanations for evil/suffering, alternative worldviews on the subject, and the overarching resolution of those through Jesus' atoning death and resurrection. He tackles tough questions such as why there is so much evil in the world post-resurrection, why God allows it, and what the Bible has to say about promised prosperity for His people. He discusses what purposes God has in allowing suffering, and how we can handle tough times. A book by such a renowned Christian would not be complete without a clear explanation of the gospel and an invitation to salvation.

What I will carry away from the book more than anything, and I think Randy would feel his purposes in writing it successful to know it, are two things: that we can be enveloped in the comfort of God's presence even in the midst of terrible suffering, and that God's Word provides a sure, secure place of stability when our worlds rock and reel.

I encourage you to take a sneak peek at Chapter One and then dare you not to want to read the rest!

http://waterbrookmultnomah.com/pdf/Goodness_Of_God_chapter1.pdf

Randy can be found on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/randyalcorn

I received this book for free from Waterbrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review.

Nothing good

G.K. Chesterton, the Christian apologist, answered a request from the London Times for an essay on "What's Wrong with the World?" with two simple words: "I am."

In 1991 I had just started a new job as Clinical Coordinator for a Christian treatment program for adolescents. The ironic thing about it was, I wasn't a Christian. Further, I didn't understand the big fuss about Christianity (in my psychological expertise it was incompatible with sound clinical treatment), and the Bible-freaky people around me made me uncomfortable. Yes, kids, before I was a Christian...I wasn't.

The program manager who had hired me hadn't thought my faith was a big deal and just figured I could "fake it." Well, God had other plans. Thank goodness!

She gave me an assignment typing (1991...no computer) up the Christian 12 Steps for our program packet. Each had Scripture accompanying it. The verse for the first step ("We admitted we were powerless over our addiction and our lives had become unmanageable") was:

And I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. (Romans 7:18 NLT)

Well, that verse just really irritated me.

I was a good person! The nerve--"nothing good dwells in me"! And sin--I had a Masters degree in counseling psychology, for crying out loud...sin was a ridiculous word. People were sick, victims of disorders, dysfunction, addictions--not sinful! Ergh. Grumble. Growl!

Do you know, I messed up every time I typed that verse out? And since my program manager was adamant there would be no white-out on my draft, I had to retype it over...and over...and over. It was like one of those dreams where you are trying to run and your feet won't move. It felt like slow-motion, leaded and heavy. Oh, was I irked. Dumb fanatical Christians. I did NOT have a sinful nature.

Fast forward through a lot of life events and baby whispers from the Lord awakening a curious passion in my heart to April 1996 when I bowed my head, admitted my sinful nature, and yielded my life to the Savior who is the only hope for it.

In every Bible I have owned since then, I have written in the margin next to Romans 7:18, "fall 1991" and a big smiley face. Yep, I agree--nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my sinful nature...and I can laugh with God now over how He put my face in that verse until I knew it.

I can echo the words of John Newton, the former slave trader who became a minister and hymn writer ("Amazing Grace"): "My memory is nearly gone;
but I remember two things;
That I am a great sinner, and
that Christ is a great Saviour."

Bilbos are we all!

"I would have doubted me too. I'm not a hero...or a warrior...or even a burglar." Bilbo Baggins, The Hobbit

Why do we all love The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings trilogy? I believe one of the reasons is because we see on the big screen the reflection of our small selves. Inside, we are Bilbos and Frodos, comfortable in our hobbit holes and yet called to great life adventures to do good and fight evil; adventures that terrify and stretch us and force us to be who the Gandalfs know we truly are.

I have seen this in many layers in my life: attending graduate school while working two jobs and doing an internship (and getting married four months into my Masters' program); being the third caseworker in SD to ever work with homeless youth in a shelter program; becoming the program manager of a homeless youth group home; raising four sons (yes, motherhood definitely counts as a grand adventure!); homeschooling; and for the past eight years, leading an intercessory prayer group that regularly takes on, in the unseen spiritual realm, goblins and orcs, resisting Sauron and fighting for the peace and safety of those we love. Each of these has been far, far beyond my natural abilities.

God never calls us to common, easy tasks. He always calls us to grand adventures far beyond our imagination and outside our abilities. Why? So we experience what is always His highest pursuit--relationship with Him, as we cling fervently to His Word and lean desperately on His Spirit. I don't ever want to be known for something I can do in my own strength. Mark my life by the things I couldn't do except for a tenacious grip on the arm of my Savior.

"I would have doubted me too. I'm not a hero...or a warrior...or even a burglar."

“Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing." (John 15:5 NLT)

Today I loved homeschooling because....

We have been homeschooling since the fall of 2005. I was the poster child for "I will NEVER do that to my kids!" until God poked and a friend spent a morning with me listening to all my "but what about--?"s...and here I sit, with two sons in college and two more still doing math and science at the kitchen table. I have always said the worst day homeschooling (and there are worst days, believe me) will always be better than the best day I spent working full time outside my home. While there is much to tell about the adventures along the way (I've just given myself two future blog posts just in this paragraph), today, Monday January 7, 2013, I love homeschooling because:

*I got to take care of my 13 year old son, who is sick. Not sick enough to stay in bed all day, but sick enough to hang out in his jammies on the couch. We read 100 pages of "To Kill a Mockingbird" and discussed themes of prejudice and integrity. He also did Bible and worked on his report on famous explorers. He drank herbal tea and stayed warm and rested.

*We needed to ease back into routine after Christmas break. My 9 year old and I snuggled and read a book about Hernan Cortes and the Aztec empire. He played a multiplication game online and wrote out times tables. We read Charlotte's Web (NEVER get tired of that book!)--again, snuggled up. He started a reconstruction project in the backyard. He declared school wasn't that bad and he's ready to start back up again :-)

*I got to spend a quiet day with these boys of mine. Yes, there are frantic days of whining over tests and frustration over having to rewrite a paragraph one more time; there are tired days after late or poorly slept nights; there are days where I have to spend more time addressing character than academics. But today was just smooth and serene, taking things slowly and enjoying time spent together learning at home.

Tomorrow there will be different reasons I love homeschooling. And...that's why I love homeschooling!

The 90-day challenge!

This is my pastor talking about the "90 Day Challenge" to read our Bibles. Reading the Bible an hour a day, approximately, will bring you through it in about 90 days....he encourages us to make this a way of life!

As Pastor Leo mentions, this brings me through the Word 3-4 times a year. I cannot begin to express how this has changed and matured my heart, mind, and behaviors as the living Word has taken deep root and grown in the core of my being. I find that in moments of fear, stress, anxiety, frustration, sadness, verses that speak directly to my need flood into my mind and strengthen me.

Start in the first book of the New Testament, Matthew. Read through to the end of Revelation, round the corner to Genesis, and keep on going till Malachi. Then do it again! The more you do, the more you will see the Bible as a whole, complete story of redemption rather than the often misconceived division of a legalistic Old Testament and a love-filled New Testament.


Need to figure how much to read per day to make it through in 90 (or 60, 120, 150 etc) days? There's probably an app for that :) or you can just take the number of pages and divide them by the number of days.

So today, January 1st, purpose to fill your year with the Bible!

Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path. (Psalms 119:105 NLT)